Liverpool are reportedly close to sealing a deal for Stoke City star Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Swizterland winger looks set to be on the move ahead of the new campaign following the club's relegation to the Championship after a decade in the top flight of English football.

Having moved to the bet365 Stadium in August 2015 from Inter Milan, the 26-year-old has a release clause of £13million that clubs can activate following the Potters' failure to preserve their Premier League status last season.

Mark Hughes, who signed the player during his time at Stoke, is believed to be interested in reuniting with Shaqiri at Southampton, while there has also been reports that London clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and West Ham United are also keeping tabs on developments.

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However, it's the Merseyside outfit who have apparently made the first move.

It was reported on Wednesday by the Telegraph that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is making his move to sign Shaqiri and wants to trigger his release clause this month.

Now the Northern Football Correspondent for The Times, Paul Joyce, has revealed that the Reds are closing in on a deal for the winger who scored eight goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League last season.

Shaqiri is beaten to the ball by Marcelo. (Image: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

While there will be a number of clubs interested in signing the talented winger, Shaqiri has stated that he would love to remain in England.

"It is no secret that I will leave the club," he told Swiss publication Aargauer Zeitung last month. "I think the (English) league is perfect for me.

"I would love to stay in England but I don't want to rule anything out. It's the best league with the best players."